Abstract:
A pneumatic sheet material hold-down conveyor system is described in which a frame mounts conveyor having a movable working flight. A first manifold with a support surface movably supports the working flight. Air intake openings are formed through the support surface, connected to a vacuum source for producing suction against the sheet material to draw the sheet material against the working flight. A second manifold is also provided on the frame, with a discharge surface extending along and in spaced relation to the working flight. Air discharge openings formed through the discharge surface is directed toward the working flight. A positive air pressure source is connected to the second manifold and is configured to pressurize the second manifold such that pressurized air is delivered through the air discharge openings toward the working flight and against the sheet material to push the sheet material against the working flight. A flat sheet positioned on the working flight between the first and second manifolds is thereby held against the working flight by positive air pressure on one side and negative air pressure on an opposite side. Thus secured, the sheet material may be moved by the working flight and be folded by the forming mandrel. A forming mandrel is provided on the frame and extends along the working flight to engage and progressively fold sheet material moving along the working flight.
Abstract:
A machine for producing cardboard plates or the like comprises punching apparatus for punching or cutting off pieces of sheet material and delivering them edgewise under gravity to be received alternately by two containers. One container is open at each end, the second is permanently closed at one end. The first container is fixed to an oscillating unit and the second is pivoted thereto. When swinging in one direction the unit carries the first container to a position for receiving a piece from the punching apparatus and the second container to a vertical guiding element leading to one pair of dies on a twin press. In the reverse movement, the oscillating unit carries the first container to a position for feeding its piece through its opposite end to a second vertical guiding element leading to the second pair of dies in the press. In this movement, a link swings the second container about its axis on the oscillating unit to present the open end of the container to the punching apparatus. Controlled flaps prevent the pieces from falling prematurely from the containers. The pairs of dies are actuated alternately by a curved rotary thrust element.
Abstract:
A power unit, comprising a telescopically joined plunger assembly and barrel assembly, is internally configured to define a pair of separate fluid chambers, each of which is alternately communicated to a common source of fluid energy. The plunger and barrel assemblies are coaxially mounted on a common support shaft along which the power unit travels in incremental steps. The external end of each of the plunger and barrel assemblies is internally fitted with a set of unidirectionally acting locking rings, each set being normally biased against an associated locking wedge and into canted positions frictionally locked onto the supporting shaft. Alternate pressurization and venting of the pair of fluid chambers alternately unlocks one set of rings and effects a limited increment of inboard movement of either the plunger assembly or barrel assembly, the other assembly remaining locked to the support shaft. The pair of wedges are keyed to the support shaft to normally support a feed paddle in driving contact with one end of a supply of articles held in a feed magazine. By means of a handle on the feed paddle, the plunger and barrel assemblies can be turned on the pair of locking wedges to mechanically unlock the two sets of rings to deactivate the device to permit its withdrawal along the shaft in the outboard direction.
Abstract:
Box parts such as box bottoms and box lids are fabricated from notched blanks of plastic sheet material.Relatively large boxes can be fabricated and the blank feed mechanism is actuated by a crank mechanism that runs at twice the speed of a main, one revolution per cycle drive shaft. An extension blank pusher can be added to produce smaller boxes. The tab folders have solvent applicators formed as grooved metal bars associated with a centralized solvent delivery and recovery system. The transverse folding dies are heated with a flexible, rope-like heating element to facilitate changes in die length. The feeding apparatus includes cam operated, vacuum cup lifter arm assemblies which lift the top blank from a stack and present it to vacuum cups on the feed pushers. These assemblies are longitudinally adjustable. The anvils that cooperate with the tab folders have heated bodies, but their clamp surfaces are insulated from the bodies.
Abstract:
Box parts such as box bottoms and box lids are fabricated from notched blanks of plastic sheet material.Relatively large boxes can be fabricated and the blank feed mechanism is actuated by a crank mechanism that runs at twice the speed of a main, one revolution per cycle drive shaft. An extension blank pusher can be added to produce smaller boxes. The tab folders have solvent applicators formed as grooved metal bars associated with a centralized solvent delivery and recovery system. The transverse folding dies are heated with a flexible, rope-like heating element to facilitate changes in die length. The feeding apparatus includes cam operated, vacuum cup lifter arm assemblies which lift the top blank from a stack and present it to vacuum cups on the feed pushers. These assemblies are longitudinally adjustable. The anvils that cooperate with the tab folders have heated bodies, but their clamp surfaces are insulated from the bodies.